Pitman connection.



L. M. JONES.

PITMAN CONNECTION.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1910.

Patented Mar. 7, 1911.

WITNESSES OX7 a. m r 7 1% A TTORNE Y8 I N VENTOR.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LYIVIAN MELVIN J' ONES, 0F TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO THEMASSEY- HARRIS COMPANY, LIMITED, 0F TORONTO, CANADA.

PITIVIAN CONNECTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 24, 1910;

Patented Mar. 7, 1911. Serial No. 539,845.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LYMAN MELVIN JONES, of the city of Toronto, in theProvince of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Pitman Connections, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to the ball and socket connection between thereciprocating knives of mowers and the like and the pitman conveyingmovement thereto. In such connections, adjustment must be provided totake up wear and also means for rapidly disconnecting the socket fromthe ball.

My object is to devise a construction by which adjustment for wear willbe automatically effected, which will be durable, easily connected anddisconnected, and easily assembled or taken apart.

I attain my object by forming one half of the ball socket rigid with theend of the pitman and hinging the other thereon. The hinged half of thesocket is provided with a tail, behind which the end of a sliding boltmay lie to hold the half socket in position to engage the ball. The boltis longitudinally movable in suitable guides on the pitman and ispressed forward by a suitable coil spring to automatically take up wear.A pawl and ratchet construction is employed to prevent backwardmovement.

The details of the construction, many of which are part of my invention,will be best understood on reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1, is a perspective view showing a portion of a knife and apitman provided with my improved connection. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe end of the pitman. Fig. 3, is a face view, partly in section, of aportion of the end of the pitman. Fig.- 4, is a face view, partly insection showing the method of pivoting the movable part of the socket.

In the drawings, like letters of reference indicate corresponding partsin the different fi ures.

A, is the heel of a knife, to which is connected in the ordinary mannera ball B.

O, is the pitman, the end of which is provided with the usual socket endpiece D. On this end piece is formed the fixed half E, of the socket forthe ball B. The movable half F of the socket is hinged upon the end D,by means of the pin G. This pin, it

will be noted, has its head flattened at opposite sides, so that it willfit between the ribs a (see Fig. 4:). Owing to this arrangement, the pindoes not turn, consequently the movable half F, of the socket must turnon the pin which has ample bearing surface thereon, otherwise the pinwould tend to turn in the part E, where the bearing surfaces are small.By my arrangement, wear is minimized.

On the movable half F, is formed the tail H, which is so shaped that anopening is formed between it and the side of the end piece D. Behindthis tail is formed a recess I, in the end piece E, which recess thetail enters. The movable half F, of the socket is swung outwardly toallow the socket to be disengaged from the ball.

On the side of the end piece is formed a guiding lug J, through which isslidable a bolt K. The forward end of this bolt is preferably slightlybeveled and is adapted to pass between the side of the end piece D, andthe tail H, of the movable half of the socket.

Extending rearwardly from the bolt K, is a stem L, which is slidable inthe guiding lug M, formed on the socket end piece E. A coil spring N, isplaced on the stem L, and bears against the bolt K, and the lug M. Thisspring tends to yieldably press the bolt forward to engage the tail II,to hold the movable half F, of the socket in engagement with the ball,as shown. The tension of the spring will be such that the socket will beheld in close engagement with the ball without undue pressure.

In order to hold the movable half F, in engagement with the ball, Iprovide a pawl and ratchet device, as shown. This preferably consists ofa spring pawl O, adapted to engage a series of notches 1 formed on thestem L. The end of the stem is preferably bent to a form of handle Q,whereby it may be operated. It will be noted particularly, on referenceto Fig. 3, that the sides of the opening T, in the lug M, are beveled sothat when the bolt and stem are withdrawn, as shown, they may be swungto one side and then slipped out of place through the hole T. This makesa convenient arrangement for assembling the parts.

As there is considerable wear on the faces of the bolt K, and themovable part F, of the socket, I secure to these parts where theycontact the hard steel plates R, and S, and thus secure the desiredfreedom from wear and consequent durability.

It will be found that the connection as described is very convenient andefifective in operation. The movable half of the socket will always beautomatically adjusted as the parts were without requiring any attentionon the part of the operator of the machine. I thus avoid all the troublewhich has heretofore been experienced with adjusting devices whichrequire personal attention. 7

That I claim as my invention is:

1. A pitman having one half of a bearing fixedly carried thereon; acomplementary half bearing hinged thereon, a tail on said movable halfbearing, a bolt with a beveled end longitudinally movable on the pitmanto press its beveled end between the said tail and the pitman; yieldingmeans tending to press forward the said bolt; and pawl and ratchet meansto prevent a reverse movement of said bolt.

2. pitman having one half of a bearing fixedly carried thereon; acomplementary half bearing hinged thereon; a tail on said movable halfbearing; slidable wec ging means adapted to engage said tail to movesaid movable half bearing toward the fixed half bearing; yielding meansadapted to move said wedging means to engage the said tail; and pawl andratchet means to prevent a reverse movement of said operating means.

3. A pitman having one half of a bearing fixedly carried thereon;acomplementary half bearing hinged thereon; a tail on said movable halfbearing;- a bolt with a beveled end longitudinally movable on the pitmanto press its beveled end between the said tail and the pitman; means forholding the bolt with its forward end in engagement with the said tail;and pawl and ratchet means to prevent a reverse movement of said bolt.

4:. A pitman having one half of a bearing fixedly carried thereon; acomplementary half bearing hinged thereon; a tail on said movable halfbearing; a bolt with a beveled end adapted to engage the tail; a guidinglug on the pitman through which the said bolt is slidable; a stem on thebolt; a lug on the pitman through which the said stem is slidable; acoil spring on the stem between the said lug and the bolt; and pawl andratchet means to prevent a reverse movement of said bolt.

5. A pitman having one half of abearing fixedly carried thereon; acomplementary half bearing hinged thereon; a tail on said movable halfbearing; a bolt with a beveled end adapted to engage the tail; a guidinglug on the pitman through which the said bolt is slida'ble; a stem onthe bolt; a lug on the pitman through which the said stem is slidable; acoil spring on the stem between the said lug and the bolt; and a springpawl securedto the pitman,- the stem of the bolt outside the lug beingprovided with ratchet teeth for engagement by the pawl.

6. A pitman having one half of a bearing fixedly carried thereon; acomplementary half bearing hinged thereon; a tail on said movable halfbearing; a bolt with a beveled end adapted to engage the tail; a guidinglug on the pit-man through which the said bolt is slidab le; a stem onthe bolt; a lug on the pitman through which the said stem is slidab-le,the hole in the lug having beveled sides to permit of the stem beingswung to one side after the bolt has been withdrawn from its lug; acoil-spring on the stem between the said lug and the bolt; and pawl andratchet means to prevent a reverse movement of said bolt.

Dated at Toronto this third ua-ry 1910.

LYMAN MELVIN JONES. Signed in the presence of LOUIS ANDREW MOTAGGART,CHARLES JAMEs Cooxnn.

day of Jan- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 6.

